Queen seemed to sense his reserve. He chewed some more pâté. “So you own a restaurant?”
Micah slowly released his breath. Yes, back to regular conversation. “Actually more of a breakfast and lunch place. We stay open into the early evening but don’t have a separate dinner menu. Our biggest traffic is for fresh juice, sandwiches, salads, things like that.”
“Is it all raw food?”
Micah shook his head. “Oh no. I’d go out of business. But I teach raw-food classes. I have a nice clientele of dedicated people who want to try to improve their diets.” Except for the occasional crappy cupcake.
“How interesting. I’m also—”
“Here’s your dinner.” The waiter placed a huge salad in front of Micah and a plate of salmon with sauce, rice, and vegetables at Queen’s place. He smiled at Queen. “Look good?”
Queen flashed his straight, white teeth and the guy about fell over. “It looks delicious.”
“Can I get you anything else?”
Queen glanced at Micah, who nodded. “It looks great, thanks.”
They dug in. The salad actually tasted good. The kitchen staff had knocked themselves out to please him—or rather, to please Queen. Queen seemed to love his food. They chatted about politics, and Micah beamed when Queen said he’d voted for the proposition to require labeling of genetically modified foods.
They took their time. People came and went from the tables around them. Finally Micah started to put down his credit card, and Queen stayed his hand. “I told you. My treat.” He fished in his purse and came out with a platinum card.
Micah shook his head. “I really appreciate it. I’ve never had anyone take me out before.” Just using and abusing boyfriends.
“Really? Well, that’s something that needs to change.” Queen sat back in his chair and tasted a little wine. “I really like this choice and—oh my.”
“What is it?”
Queen nodded toward the area of the restaurant closest to the front door. “The man who just came in. I know him. Or maybe I should say I know of him.”
Micah looked over his shoulder. Shit. Dharmaram and his lady friend. “Sadly, I know him too.” Micah turned back to Queen. “How do you know him?”
A crease appeared between Queen’s fair eyebrows. “You first.”
Micah sighed. “He’s my ex. The rat.”
The blue eyes widened. “You’re joking?”
“Not even.”
Queen stared over Micah’s shoulder.
“Well, call me amazed. Mary Beth was right.”
“Mary Beth?”
Queen looked startled. “Oh. Yes, well, uh, Mary Beth is my grandmother.”
“How does she know Dharmaram?”
Queen nodded. “Yes, that’s the name. He’s her yoga teacher.”
Micah frowned. “Don’t worry. He’s actually a good teacher, even if he is pretty questionable in other ways.”
“That’s what she said. She noted that he was now with a woman. Must be the lady he’s with tonight. But she said he used to be with a good-looking young man, that I now assume was you. Small world.” He sipped.
“Actually, Laguna’s a small world. So is your grandmother the complexity you mentioned?”
He sighed. “Very much so. She’s like my mother, and I guess you could say we take care of each other.”
“What happened to your parents?”
“They died in a small plane crash when I was just two. Mary Beth took over and raised me. She lost her husband before I was born, but she was well-off even before he died. And she’s added to that over the years with real estate purchases. Quite a feat for a dyed-in-the-cotton Southern lady from South Carolina.”
Micah took a drink of water. “Why are you here instead of South Carolina?”
“Her choice. She said it was for her health, but I’m starting to wonder about that.” Queen glanced again over Micah’s shoulder. “By the way, your ex-friend is staring intently at us. Funny. He also stared at me when I went to pick up Mary Beth, but, of course, I looked quite different then.”
“He’s probably wondering what I’m doing with a woman.” Micah laughed. “It couldn’t have been a snap being gay and, uh, a fan of women’s clothes in South Carolina.”
Queen raised his finely arched brows. “It certainly was not.”
“Maybe that’s why your grandmother wanted to move here?”
He waved a hand in front of his face. “Oh my, no. Mary Beth knows nothing of my proclivities.”
“Proclivities? You don’t mean you’ve never told her you’re gay?”
He nodded. “I do mean.”
“Well, hell, Queen. How do you manage that?”
“Very carefully.” But hurt reflected in his eyes. “The yoga teacher’s still staring. His lady friend must be livid.”
Micah put his hand over Queen’s. “How about we leave?”
“I’d like that.”
“I can take you somewhere else.”
He grinned. “Somewhere like your place?”
Micah’s breath sucked in. “Do you want to come to my place?”
Queen looked down at his manicured nails. “If you want me to.”
“Are you kidding? Of course I want you to.” Micah took a last sip of wine. “Do you think I could see what you look like as a guy? It’s not essential. I love you just like this.”
Queen lips curved softly. “You do?”
Micah felt heat in his face. “Well, you know what I mean.”
“I’m only teasing. I’m sure you will be getting a good look at my man parts one way or another.” He pulled a red shawl from his purse and settled it around his shoulders. “Yes, I’d love to go to your place, although I can’t be too late as I check on Mary Beth at night. Or perhaps I should say I come to her home so she can check on me.” Queen laughed.
Micah leaned over near Queen’s ear. “The way I feel here with you, I don’t think you’ll have to stay late to satisfy both of us. I can’t wait to fuck you.”
“Oh, I love it when you talk dirty.” He flipped the shawl over his shoulder and stood. Micah got up beside Queen and met Dharmaram’s wide-eyed stare full-on.
Queen walked with swaying hips right past Micah’s gaping ex-lover. Micah nodded slightly toward Dharmaram and his bill-paying lady friend and sailed past them as well. That
